Railway-signal.



G. TRAHAN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLIOAYTION IILED'JUNE e, 1910 1,060,798. Patented May 6, 1913.

ATTORNEY CAMILLE TEAHAN, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

Application filed June 6, 1910.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1913.

Serial No. 565,363.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAMILLE TRAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railway- Signals, of which the following is a spec1- fication.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in railway signals, and has for its object to rovide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this character whereby the engineer or crew of the train may be notified that the signal is against them, even though the semaphore cannot be seen which often happens in heavy storms or fogs.

A further object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with the semaphore a means for placing a torpedo upon the track when the semaphore is up or removing the torpedo from the track when the semaphore is down.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient means for operating the torpedo holder when either of the two semaphores is operated.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

I11 order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which- Figure l is a plan view of a portion of a track showing my improvement applied thereto, the casing of the torpedo holder being shown in section, and Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the rails of the track fastened to the ties B, two of which may be extra long, and on the outer end of these is mounted the casing O, having an open end D and provided with feet E which are fastened to the ties by bolts F or their equivalent. In the closed end of the casing is formed an opening G through which passes the rod H, to the inner end of which is attached the torpedo holder I. About the rod H is coiled the spring J, one end thereof resting against the closed end of the casing and the opposite end against the torpedo holder I, said spring normally forcing the holder I outward.

K is a straight lever pivoted to the outer end of the rod H and in its operations rests against the pins L and M as will be hereinafter described.

N is a bell crank lever, one end of which is pivoted to one end of the lever K and said lever N has a cable 0 or other suitable means fastened thereto which connects said lever N with the connection P leading to a semaphore, said semaphore controlling the movements of a train running in one direction. The opposite end of the lever K is provided with a slot Q whereby one end of the bell crank lever R is connected thereto, the opposite end of said bell crank lever being fastened to the cable S which is attached to the connection T, said connection being pivoted to the bell crank lever U which operates the semaphore V.

The operation of the device will now be explained as installed for a single track railway: The normal position of the semaphore signals being up or at danger, the straight lever K rests against both of the pins L and M permitting the coil spring J to force the torpedo holder I outwardly placing the torpedo upon the track. In this position a train passing either way upon the track A would explode the torpedo, notifying the engineer that the semaphore is up or against him. In the event of a clear track for a train approaching from either direction the operator drops the semaphore controlling movement of the train in the direction from which approaching. This dropping of the semaphore is accompanied by a movement of the adjacent end of the lever K away from its pin, the other pin being used as a fulcrum for said lever, through the associated cable and bell crank; which action operates to retract the rod H against the force of the coil spring G and thereby withdraw the torpedo holder from the track into the casing G. The train will thereupon pass and continue over a clear track whereupon said semaphore will be returned manually or otherwise (this forming no part of my invention) to the up or danger position permitting the lever K to resume its position in contact with both ofthe pins L and M thereby restoring the torpedo holder to its normal position over the track in readiness to be exploded by the next train approaching from either direction provided the semaphore controlling movement in that direction be not operated to indicate a clear track and remove the holder from its position over the track. Should any of the parts break so that the signals could not be operated, the spring will cause the torpedo holder tobe moved out upon the track in this way notifying the engineer that the signal is against him or something is wrong with the workings of the signals at which time the train'ma'y be brought to a standstill.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction here shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is

L. In a single track railway, semaphores located at the side of the track for controlling movement of trains in both directions on the track, a single torpedo holder connected to said semaphores and adapted to be operated by each of said semaphores.

2. In a single track railway, a plurality of semaphore located at the side of the track for controlling movement of trains in both directions on the track, a torpedo holder, a rod connected to said torpedo holder, a straight lever pivoted centrally to the end of said rod, pins against which the straight lever is adapted tonormally rest, a bell-crank lever .connected to said straight lever at each end thereof, each bell-crank lever adapted to move one end of the straight lever about one of said pins as a pivot whereby said rod may be operated to move the torpedo holder, a semaphore located beside the track on each side of the torpedo holder, and means connecting each bell-crank lever with a semaphore whereby one of said semaphores and one end of the straight lever may be operated simultaneously.

3. In a single track railway, a casing having the outer end thereof open and having a perforation in the inner end, said casing adapted to be placed beside a track, a torpedo holder slidably mounted in said casing and adapted to project over the track, a rod connected to said torpedo holder and operating through the perforation in the inner end of the casing, a spring located in the casing and coiled about said rod having its terminal convolutions in contact with the inner end of the casing and the torpedo holder and adapted to normally force the latter outwardly, a straight lever pivoted centrally to the end of said rod, a pin mounted in proximity to each end of the straight lever, said straight lever normally rest-ing against both of said pins, a bell-- crank lever connected to said straight lever at each end thereof, each bell-crank lever adapted to move one end of the straight lever away from its pin and about the opposite pin as a pivot whereby the rod may be operated to move the torpedo holder, a semaphore located beside the track on each side of the casing, one of said semaphores controlling movement of trains in one direction and the other in the opposite direction,

and means connecting each semaphore with the adjacent bellcrank lever whereby one end of the straight lever may be moved upon operation of the associated semaphore.

In testimony whereof, I. have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GAMILLE TRAHAN; Witnesses:

J. C. PATNAUDE, Ros PATNAUDE.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtomi); G. 

